Tow bar

ABSTRACT

A tow bar for vehicles is provided which has a main frame portion of generally A-shape with a detachable coupling at the apex for attachment to a ball on the towing vehicle, the frame having fixed rearwardly extending side arms with detachable side arms for attachment directly or indirectly to the vehicle to be towed, the side bars being selectively attachable at different locations to provide a plurality of widths to accommodate different towed vehicles.

United States Patent 1191 Tierno Oct. 16, 1973 [54] TOW BAR FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS lnvemorI Anthony Tierno, Philadelphia, 436,74811/1926 Germany 280/482 [22] Filed: Aug. 24, 1972 Primary ExaminerLeoFriaglia [21] Appl' 283,355 Attorney-Zachary T. Wobensmith [52] US. Cl.280/482, 280/491 E, 280/491 R [57] ABSTRACT Int. A tow bar for i l isprovided whlch has a mam Fleld of Search D, frame portion of g ly h p adetachable 28O/495 491 491 A coupling at the apex for attachment to aball on the towing vehicle, the frame having fixed rearwardly ex- [56]References C'ted tending side arms with detachable side arms for at-UNTTED STATES PATENTS tachment directly or indirectly to the vehicle tobe 1,435,063 11/1922 Holmes 280/482 towed, the side bars beingselectively attachable at dif- 2,658,770 11/1953 Koenig 280/491 D Xferent locations to provide a plurality of widths to ac- 3,281,16210/1966 Carson 280/478 B o modate different towed vehicles, 3,492,0221/1970 Hansen 280/478 R 3,572,765 3/1971 Tieben 280/491 D 5 Chums, 7Drawing F lgures Patented Get. 16, 1973 3,765,704

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 (W /7 W H Patented Oct. 16, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet :3

TOW BAR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Thisinvention relates to draft devices for towing vehicles.

2. Description of the Prior Art Various devices have heretofore beenproposed for towing a vehicle. Examples are shown in U.S. Pats. No.1,435,063, to Holmes, No. 1,436,595 to McKay, No. 3,28 l ,l62 to Carson,No. 3,492,022 to Hanser and No. 3,572,765 to Teiben.

These devices have various shortcomings including lack of strength, lackreliability in use or lack adjustability to accommodate various vehiclesto be towed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention, a tow bar isprovided having a main frame of generally A-shape with a detachablecoupling for attachment to a ball on a towing vehicle, the frame havingdiverging rearwardly extending side arms with rearwardly extendingdetachable side extension arms for attachment directly or indirectly tothe vehicle to be towed, the side arms being selectively attachable atdifferent locations and with different orientation to provide aplurality of widths at the rear ends of the side extension arms toaccommodate different towed vehicles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The nature and characteristic featuresof the invention will be more readily understood from the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings formingpart thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the tow bar of the invention in oneposition of adjustment;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view, as seen from one side, showingthe tow bar of FIG. 1;

I FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing another position ofadjustment;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIGS. 2 and 3 showing another position ofadjustment;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 showing another position ofadjustment;

FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view, taken approximately on the line6-6 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view, taken approximately on the line7--7 of FIG. 2.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawingsherein are illustrative merely and that various modifications andchanges can be made in the structure disclosed without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

Like numerals refer'to like parts throughout the several views.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularlyto the drawings, the tow bar in accordance with the invention includes amain body 10 which includes diverging rearwardly extending side arms 11,preferably rectangular in cross section, held at their front ends by aframe 12, with a top frame plate 13 and unitary side frame plates 14with lower flaring edges 15. The side arms 11 are preferably secured tothe frame 12 by welding.

The top frame plate 13 has a coupling 16 carried thereby for attachmentto a ball (not shown) on a towing vehicle. While any suitable coupling16 can be employed, a coupling which has been found satisfactory isshown in the U. S. Pat. to Kirk, et al., No. 3,163,445. The coupling 16is shown as including a pivoted yoke 17 slidable forwardly andrearwardly for ball coupling and uncoupling, and a pivoted latch 18releasably retaining the yoke 17 in coupled relation.

The main body 10 preferably includes a transverse spacer and brace bar19 which is welded at its ends to the side arms 11 near their rear ends.

The side arms 11 are each provided with a plurality of holes 20, 21 and22, preferably equally spaced, one of which at 20, is preferablyrearwardly spaced with reference to the brace bar 19 and the other twoof which, at 21 and 22, are preferably rearwardly of the centers of theside arms 11, considered from end to end.

A pair of detachable side arms 23 are provided, preferably rectangularin cross section to be clamped on the outer faces of the arms 1 1. Eachof the arms 23 has angularly inclined end portions 24 and 25, extendingout of the longitudinal plane of the arm 23 in opposite directions. Theangle of inclination of the end portions 24 and 25 is determined by thedivergence of the arms 11 and is such that when the arms 23 are clampedon the arms 11, the rearwardly disposed end portions 24 and 25 will beparallel.

Each of the arms 23 has a plurality of holes 26, 27 and 28, preferablyequally spaced and at the same spacing as the holes 20, 21 and 22. Theholes 26, 27 and 28 are preferably closer to the end portion 24 than tothe end portion 25.

The end portions 24 each has a hole 29 and the end portions 25 each hasa hole 30 for the purposes to be explained.

The detachable side arms 23 can be fastened to the fixed side arms 11 toobtain a plurality of end spacings for the ends 24 or 25 by bolts 31 andnuts 32 disposed through the holes 20, 21, and 22 and the holes 26, 27and 28 and dependent upon the orientation of the arms 23 with respect tothe arms 11.

One selected positioning is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 which in aparticular embodiment of the invention gives a spacing of the endportions 24 of thirty inches with the ends 24 rearwardly and with bolts31 extending respectively through holes 26 and 20 and holes 28 and 22.

Another selected positioning is shown in FIG. 3 in which the side arms23 are moved rearwardly along the arms 11 to move the ends 24rearwardly. With bolts 31 disposed respectively through holes 28 and 21and holes 27 and 20 in the embodiment just referred to a spacing of theends 24 of thirty four inches can be obtained.

Another selected positioning is shown in FIG. 4 in which the arms 23 areturned end for end from the positions previously described and alsoreversed so that the rearward ends 25 are parallel. With bolts 31respectively in the holes 26 and 22 and the holes 28 and 20 in theembodiment previously referred to, a spacing of the ends 25 of thirtyseven inches can be obtained.

Another selected positioning is shown in FIG. 5 in which the arms 23 areoriented as shown in FIG. 4 but with the bolts 31 respectively in theholes 26 and 21 and the holes 27 and 20 which in the embodimentpreviously referred to will give a spacing of the ends 25 of Y fortyinches.

The ends 24 through the bolt holes 29 can in some instances be clampeddirectly to the frame of the vehicle to be towed.

The ends 24 and 25 through bolt holes 29 and 30 can each have an anglebracket 33 secured thereto by bolts 34 and nuts 35 extending throughbolt holes 36, and disposed outwardly as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 orinwardly as illustrated in H6. 4. The brackets 33 are shown as havingbolt holes 37 for securing the same to the bumper or other part of thevehicle to be towed.

The tow bar as heretofore described in particularly useful for modifiedstock and other racing cars which are towed to the place of competitionbut is not limited to such use.

I claim:

1. A tow bar having a main body with a forwardly disposed frame andrigid rearwardly disposed diverging arms secured to and extending fromsaid frame,

said frame having a coupling carried thereby,

a pair of detachable arms having ends extending angularly therefrom forparallel disposition rearwardly of said rigid arms, and

means for connecting said detachable arms to said rigid arms,

said last mentioned means including a plurality of spaced bolt holes insaid rigid arms and a plurality of equally spaced bolt holes in saiddetachable arms,

the bolt holes in said detachable arms being closer to one of said endswhereby upon selected end to end arrangement and orientation of saiddetachable arms said detachable arms can be secured at a plurality oflocations with the rearmost ends at predetermined selected spacings, and

bolts extending through selected holes retaining said detachable arms inengagement with said rigid arms.

2. A tow bar as defined in claim 1 in which said ends have securing boltholes therethrough.

3. A tow bar as defined in claim 2 in which clamping brackets aresecured to said ends by bolts extending through said clamping bracketsand said ends.

4. A tow bar as defined in claim 1 in which said frame has a transversebrace bar between the rear ends of said rigid legs.

5. A tow bar as defined in claim 4 in which one of the holes in each ofthe rigid arms being rearwardly disposed with respect to said brace bar.

1. A tow bar having A main body with a forwardly disposed frame andrigid rearwardly disposed diverging arms secured to and extending fromsaid frame, said frame having a coupling carried thereby, a pair ofdetachable arms having ends extending angularly therefrom for paralleldisposition rearwardly of said rigid arms, and means for connecting saiddetachable arms to said rigid arms, said last mentioned means includinga plurality of spaced bolt holes in said rigid arms and a plurality ofequally spaced bolt holes in said detachable arms, the bolt holes insaid detachable arms being closer to one of said ends whereby uponselected end to end arrangement and orientation of said detachable armssaid detachable arms can be secured at a plurality of locations with therearmost ends at predetermined selected spacings, and bolts extendingthrough selected holes retaining said detachable arms in engagement withsaid rigid arms.
 2. A tow bar as defined in claim 1 in which said endshave securing bolt holes therethrough.
 3. A tow bar as defined in claim2 in which clamping brackets are secured to said ends by bolts extendingthrough said clamping brackets and said ends.
 4. A tow bar as defined inclaim 1 in which said frame has a transverse brace bar between the rearends of said rigid legs.
 5. A tow bar as defined in claim 4 in which oneof the holes in each of the rigid arms being rearwardly disposed withrespect to said brace bar.